Crew Effects from Toxic Exposures on Aircraft

Abstract

The cabin of an airplane is a specialised working environment and should be considered
as such. The oils and hydraulics used in airplane engines are toxic, and specific ingredients of
such materials are irritating, sensitising and neurotoxic. If oil or hydraulic fluids leak out of
engines, this contamination may be in the form of unchanged oil/fluid, degraded oil/fluid from long
use in the engine, combusted oil/fluid or pyrolised oil/fluid, in the form of gases, vapours, mists
and particulate matter. If leak incidents occur and the oil/fluid is ingested into bleed air and
is passed to the flight deck and passenger cabins of airplanes in flight, aircrew and passengers may
be exposed to contaminants that can affect their health and safety. Where contamination of air in
the flight deck and passenger cabin occurs that is sufficient to cause symptoms of discomfort, fatigue,
irritation or toxicity, this contravenes the air quality provisions of Federal Aviation Regulations,
most notably FAR 25.831. Symptoms of immediate or short-term nature and reported by exposed staff
in single or few leak incidents are consistent with the development of irritation and discomfort.
Symptoms of a long-term nature (that is, sustained symptoms for at least six months) reported
by some exposed staff following small to moderate numbers of leak incidents are consistent with the
development of an irreversible discrete occupational health condition, termed aerotoxic syndrome.
Features of this syndrome are that it is associated with air crew exposure at altitude to atmospheric
contaminants from engine oil or other aircraft fluids, temporarily juxtaposed by the development of
a consistent symptomology including short-term skin, gastro-intestinal, respiratory and nervous
system effects, and long-term central nervous and immunological effects.

Balouet J-C, Winder C (1999) Aerotoxic syndrome in air crew as a result of exposure to airborne
contaminants in aircraft. Paper presented at the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
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